1. Balloon Museum

    1. Balloon Museum

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    New York, NY

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    Balloon Museum

    3.6 (51 reviews)

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    Keittisha W.

    We had a great time. I felt like a big kid. It's for adults and kids. It was great time to be a kid again. You must come and experience it for yourself. There are so many things and rooms to go into and experience different things.

    Renee R.

    This was such a cool experience. I brought my three kids here and they had such a good time!! It was very interactive and fun. A lot of different rooms to check out. The art of it was good. Would have been super cool for kids to get a free balloon at the end since the ticket is is kinda steep...I mean there was 4 of us at $50 a ticket. But whatever it was still a lot of fun! Love that it's in the seaport and easy to get to

    Chris P.

    I finally visited this museum inside the former Tin Building. I used a promo code to purchase my ticket, but it was definitely pricey for what they are currently offering. I went solo because it's convenient. Once you're in, you can stay as long as you like. Unfortunately I got caught in a thunderstorm and needed to get home. The exhibits were interactive and if I went with more people we can spend the whole day there. The only exhibit I did not go to was the Onion Lab because no shoes were allowed. My favorite exhibits were the carousel and the swings. It was a fun experience but definitely pricey.

    Emily E.

    Our family of four had a blast. It's definitely not an inexpensive activity but I felt it was worth it. Each room/exhibit was unique and cool! Great photo ops too. I didn't feel rushed to move along, we were able enjoy each space fully.

    Agnes P.

    The Balloon Museum is a traveling exhibit in multiple cities. I got to experience this exhibit with my children in New York City and if given the opportunity, I'd do it again! There's a lot of room to interact with and many are also photo opportunities! My daughter was really amused with the balloon bag. I'm even impressed with the inflated furniture. I wonder how that survived so long!

    Natasha R.

    I truly love immersive experiences and photo ops and this def meets that. I came on a Sunday afternoon, parking was difficult and the event was super crowded. Overly crowded honestly. My family enjoyed the rooms but with it so crowded, it ruined some rooms. It made it a bit chaotic and unorganized. For the price paid, it should have been much more organized. On the plus side, we got to enjoy the ball pit and vr.

    Rezwana N.

    This will be my first review of 2024 & I am so glad I get to write lots of great stuff about this experience. What can I say ... finally after months of trying I got the opportunity to visit this amazing place! Such an exciting & colorful place to have some fun. You all know me by now, most of the time I travel alone . And I had a blast, didn't wanna leave ! Let me tell you it was difficult to get there from the island & I was almost an hour late lol. But they were nice enough to still let me in, much appreciated! Everyone working there is so kind, helpful; thank you guys . I am so happy I was able to go; no regrets only beautiful memories. I definitely needed some time with myself after working crazy hours at work for the holidays. I become a child just by being there . If the ticket was little cheaper I would try to come back just to have fun. I am also sad that they are almost done with the show, hope they brings it back permanently, because it's soo freaking cool. I also took like hundreds of pictures & videos ; stay with me I will add more later. Thank you guys for bringing this amazing experience in New York City ..!

    Entrance
    Maggie B.

    I came here on a Sunday afternoon. It was fairly crowded. You can only enter the experience at the time specified on your ticket. They have a fun outdoor waiting area with inflated tents and 90s-style bubble furniture where you can sit. They also have large inflated balls to play around with on the grounds. The attraction itself takes about an hour to get through with about a dozen different rooms. It's easy to spend more time, especially if you are waiting for certain areas to take photos. The first section has large inflatable art pieces with music and colored lights. Next, you pass through a room with inflated dolls that bounce back like punching bags when you hit them. The ball pitt is a highlight. They let about 150 people in the room at a time and you can stay for around 15 minutes. First, everyone files in and finds a spot around the perimeter of the pool of balls. You have to wait for clearance from employees before diving in. The pitt is deep and it's easy to feel like you're "drowning" in the balls, but it's fun. There are color changing lights and orbs that descend from the ceiling, which add to the ambiance. Make sure to zip all pockets and purses as it would be a nightmare to find anything lost in the pitt. In other rooms, you can play with an enormous inflated ball, pop bubbles from a huge bubble machine, and take photos with balloon art. The final section is a VR experience. You put on headsets and are transported through several immersive balloon-inspired fantasy worlds. There is a concession area where you can buy popcorn and doughnuts. You can also buy balloon flowers and souvenirs in the gift shop. Overall, it's a cute experience. Definitely ideal for kids of all ages. If you like taking photos for social media, it's a paradise. Otherwise, it's fun for the novelty but certainly not a must-do.

    Nigora R.

    Cons: -long lines -limited time in black ball pit Pros: -so much to see, hear, and touch! -great for date night and families -Balloons in all forms -the virtual reality,bubbles room, black ball pit, creatures, and ball art are fantastic! -If you like Instagram, there is an area where you can take selfies with beautiful backgrounds. Overall, the BalloonMuseum is such a fun time!

    Micah M.

    I regret not visiting earlier when it opened, because it was not at its best when I arrived within its last few days. By the time I arrived, it had "weathered." Overall, I thought the "museum" was entertaining and had almost countless photo ops if you didn't mind others in your photos or waiting patiently until you had a split second opportunity to get your shot. The ball pit was a timed large space which afforded play, photos and even a "show." It was one of the best NYC ball pits I have experienced. The VR experience was enjoyable, and piqued my interest in further VR exploration. It was a great connection between the giant balloon world we were exploring physically and the endless possibilities found in the virtual balloon world. In addition to a room filled with photo studio stations, there were many interactive exhibits. I definitely had a good time when I wasn't thinking about how it was possible to sanitize the space between visits.

    Tiffany C.

    Not worth the entrance price but it was entertaining at certain points. The interactivity was well thought out from sound to touch to sight. There's a lot of great photo ops. The ball pit was a fun activity if you are part of a group. The VR experience was my fav, it was a 360 experience that brings you to a fantasy land with balloons everywhere. Cons; lots of strobing and flickering lights. Long lines, and some wait even through some of the rooms. There was a lot of people in the photo op rooms.

    Bonnie N.

    Went on a Saturday evening around 7:30pm and it was fairly crowded. A pretty cool exhibit. Spent about 1.5 hrs here. The Hyperstellar exhibit was probably the most popular one aside from the exhibit rooms at the end where there were lines just to take pictures. The different exhibits are interesting. They're meant to be interactive and fluid. A bit pricey but expected for a pop up exhibit in NYC. There's a little snack section at the end of the exhibit as well as a small souvenir shop. Overall nice way to spend an evening. Good for date night, night with the girls, family outing with the kids.

    Mari H.

    This is something that I'd consider a once in a lifetime experience. Not because I couldn't return to NYC to see it again, but really, once you've seen it, you are good. Maybe seeing it at the other locations would be fun at each one is different. I first saw this in Emily in Paris in one of the scenes for the show but actually didn't put any thought into it being a real thing. Once I saw it on an insta page while looking for things to do during our trip, I knew I had to go. The costs of entry are pretty high, and they hike up the price by $15 per adult during the "holiday times," which, of course, was when we were there. It was $130 for two adults, which is definitely the most I've ever paid for a museum entry. But again, given the uniqueness and level of interaction and awesome photos with the exhibits, I was fine with it as a treat for myself while on vacay for my birthday trip. Entry is timed due to the nature of some of the exhibits and to also allow for people to experience everything without being super crowded, which was greatly appreciated. Like all museums and art installations, there are some super awesome and some misses. I loved that you literally emerged into this experience. From being able to be super close and not closed off by ropes to touching and playing within, creating your own experience, it is definitely unique. My favorite part was the smaller boxed sets that were designed for Instagram photos. There were 8 different scenes that everyone could take turns taking their photos without others in the way, you just had to be patient. Admittedly, some people were getting super annoying with the number of pictures they were taking of each exhibit for their 'gram pages, some on top of all the family posed photos. Luckily, you could skip around, and we figured those people out quickly and just jumped in front of them at the next one but knew we could circle back. Plus, we didn't want all of them. I did mention that I thought it would be a good idea to have someone stationed at each one to keep the time for people like they do at many experiences like this like in Chicago, where you get like 90 seconds out of the glass edge and then your off. Naturally, I loved the personalization of the I heart NYC exhibit in which you held up a sign that said NYC. You also have the option to hold up a YOU sign, which my oh so clever boyfriend did for me to take a pictire of him and he instantly turned around and used that is a heart-warming and loving happy birthday post to me (we went the day of and it worked out perfectly for him). My least favorite part was actually the exhibit where you can fully get emerged and into a pool of balls (yes, like the ball puts from our childhoods). It was fine if you were just standing there, but Lord help you if you fell over and were being weighed down by the countless balls in the biggest pit. I am short, so even the shallow pool didn't help as it felt impossible to stand back up, and there are limited number of ladders to get out of the pit. I am not tall enough to just crawl out and not knowing these details I didn't enter in near a ladder, so I had to try to get across an entire section, which was less than fun. Ben was bwing a giant kid and didn't notice that I had took off to try to get out and was struggling. And no help from any of the numerous employees. Another visitor who was there with his wife helped me to get out. Thank you to him. The light show at the end of the timed event was beautiful, but I'd never enter the pit again. The frustration wasn't worth it. The experience was 100% worth it as a one-time deal, but I couldn't imagine having a family with the prices of entry, and really, in my opinion, this is more of an adult experience as kids are either too young to even understand what they are looking at or appreciate the artwork.

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    Not worth the admission price at all. Barely any balloons, mostly blow ups. Great for taking pictures and that's all!!

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    Ask the Community - Balloon Museum

    I'm trying to visit on January 18 but the dates on the calendar to purchase only show the 10-15. does that mean the 18 isn't available or am i only able to purchase the week of?

    The Balloon Museum is only in NYC until January 14th per Google, but maybe they added one more day. It started in October. When I looked for December dates, it showed the entire month so I am sure they are wrapping up.

    Is there parking?

    We did see a parking sign as we walked up to the entrance, but per their website, it advises they do not have private parking. I think it said it was "pier parking." I can not remember the price, though, sorry. Remember that right now, until… 

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    Review Highlights - Balloon Museum

    Lots of fun, beautiful balloon art displays that are interactive for the kiddos.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Arte Museum - View of the cafe wall

    Arte Museum

    4.1(92 reviews)
    2.9 mi

    5 Star experience for the BTS fans. I ventured here with fellow Army friends to enjoy the BTS…read moreArirang themed exhibition. Each room was pleasant to the eyes and the nose -- seems there were floral scented rooms and a light fragrance in the air. The staff was very friendly and welcoming at the start of the exhibit and you are free to explore at your own pace. We were never rushed to go room to room and plenty of photo ops! Surprisingly, my favorite art piece was the bunny moon. But my favorite room was the Arirang themed room with the red lighting. BTS songs were playing and video clips were playing on a loop. About 15 minutes to see the full display. There were many other unique themed exhibits but I don't want to spoil it for you. If you like immersive exhibits, scented rooms and BTS, this is the Museum for you! Check online for a coupon for the exhibition and for the Arte Cafe. Some admission ticket prices include a free drink at the cafe. The cafe also sells Korean Corn dogs fried with cheese and other fillings. There's even an interactive table you can see while dining at the cafe. Side note: the gift shop was super fun to browse and they sold Van Gogh themed items, the bunny plushie and other items from the exhibit. There were keychains, art cards and sticker stamps, as well as playing cards, plushies and music boxes.

    Arte Museum (AM) interactive art is worth a visit…read more Immersive experience are all the rage but not all of them are equal AM has multiple spaces but I recommend getting there on the earlier side because some spaces are smaller so fewer people increase the enjoyment. The installations change but the interactive element of flowers and water displayed on the wall and floor bring you into the whole experience It is a large install. There was also a BTS install at the end. I am not a fan but even this was interesting in it's own way. We finished in the cafe to enjoy a late and the projection art continue. The display changed with the white of your latter on the table.

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    Arte Museum - Exhibit

    Exhibit

    Arte Museum
    Arte Museum

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    The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo: Bridgit Beyer

    The Metropolitan Museum of Art

    4.7(3.8k reviews)
    5.5 miCentral Park
    Not-for-profit
    Established in 1870

    Kevin was an outstanding tour guide. Being an artist and a professor, what else could you ask for…read morein a guide at the Metropolitan Museum? He tailored the tour, answered all questions, and was so insightful. I will be touring with Kevin again, and I would definitely send my friends and family here to have them take KEVIN's tour. He is a great person and a great tour guide. My mother and I had a fabulous time.

    From ancient artifacts to the wonders of the world, there are numerous museums that meet all the…read morecriteria. There are a lot of things NYC does well, particularly its museums across the five boroughs. There are 80 museums, 32 of them in Manhattan. Opened in 1880 right next to the iconic Central Park, where New Yorkers call it Museum Mile, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, better known as the 'Met,' is one of New York's premier museums. It's considered the second most visited art museum in the world, slightly behind the Louvre in Paris, containing over 1.5 million pieces of art, some dating back thousands of years. My partner and I decided on a visit after 9 years and booked our tickets online. Once we stepped inside, the Great Hall was breathtaking, and from there it just feels like the museum goes on forever. It's impossible to see everything in one visit. We started out at the Costume Art, moving to a recently open exhibit, Rediscovering Della Robbia, Fabergé, revisiting the European sculpture, Arms and Armor & our favorite, the Impressionist at the 19th Century Paintings. The entire museum was welcoming, featuring spacious areas that allowed large crowds to navigate comfortably without crowding each other. The staff we encountered were all very professional, courteous, and knowledgeable about the areas of the museum. The Met offers something for everyone, whether one's a first-time visitor or a lifelong art lover.

    Photos
    The Metropolitan Museum of Art - View of The Temple of Dendur © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Bridgit Beyer

    View of The Temple of Dendur © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Bridgit Beyer

    The Metropolitan Museum of Art - View of Gallery 825
 © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Argenis Apolinario

    View of Gallery 825 © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Argenis Apolinario

    The Metropolitan Museum of Art - © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Bridgit Beyer

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    © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo by Bridgit Beyer

    The Museum of Modern Art - "Eurasia Siberian Symphony 1963" by Joseph Beuys Panel with chalk drawing, felt, fat, taxidermied hare, and painted poles

    The Museum of Modern Art

    4.4(2.3k reviews)
    4.0 miMidtown West

    May 18th 2026 we got kicked out of our timeshare at 10:00 a.m. but had the rest of the morning…read morefree. What's open on Mondays and close to our timeshare on 57th Street? Museum of modern art. Purchase our tickets online beforehand $22 for seniors and $30 for adults. Good thing as there was a line at 10:30 when they opened all of people with prepaid 10:30 a.m. tickets. Headed directly for the 5th floor with works from 1880 to 1950 including Vincent van Gogh, Henry Mattese, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Alfred stieglitz, and Frank Lloyd wright. Famous individual works include Henry Matisse women dancers, Salvador Dali The persistence of memory, Claude Monet water lilies, Vincent van Gogh Starry night, and Pablo Picasso Les Demoiselles D'Avignon More modern works on the 3rd and 4th floors. Got through the entire museum seeing what we wanted to see by 11:45 a.m. Plenty of time for lunch at Blue and then the 2-hour journey by walking, subway, and air train to our gate at JFK airport

    Date of visit: April 14, 2026…read more The Met's hipper cousin, The Museum of Modern Art is a New York institution, from its expansive collection to its vast and varied gift shop. If you've not been, it's definitely interesting, though your interpretation of art will likely determine just how much time you spend here. Speaking of the gift shop, there's an amazing number of things to see there, at a variety of price points, so if you're looking for a souvenir to bring back home or a gift for an upcoming event/occasion, there is a little something for everyone here. In terms of the art, again, variety is the spice of life, but it may be best to come up with a plan of attack first. The galleries themselves can be a bit labyrinthy (I know it's not a word, but it really fits here) and it's easy to miss things. Recommend going up to the top floor and working your way down, too.

    Photos
    The Museum of Modern Art - Groupies in font of Van Gogh's Starry Night

    Groupies in font of Van Gogh's Starry Night

    The Museum of Modern Art - Creativity Lab on 2nd floor

    Creativity Lab on 2nd floor

    The Museum of Modern Art - Ruth Asawa: Hanging Multi-Lobed Continuous Forms

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    Ruth Asawa: Hanging Multi-Lobed Continuous Forms

    The Frick Collection - Interior courtyard

    The Frick Collection

    4.4(600 reviews)
    4.8 miUpper East Side

    The Frick Collection is located in an 18th-century, New York mansion that once belonged to steel…read moretycoon Henry Clay Frick. This was his home when he was alive. Mr. Frick knew that he wanted his art collection to be seen by the public, so he built a home with that in mind. The building is just stunning and it is near Central Park. It is truly a most elegant and intimate museum you will even go into. Mr. Frick was the consummate collector of works from the Renaissance to the end of the 19th century. We were impressed with not only the art by Degas, Turner, Vermeer, Rembrandt and more old masters, but the number of sculptures, ceramics and decorative arts. The collection is housed in a series of small rooms. As you walk from room to room, you will be awe struck by the beauty. The inner courtyard is such a peaceful place to sit. This is a gallery we visited in 2020 and wanted to return to see the latest renovations which were completed in 2025. They evidently spent 220 million dollars and 5 years to complete these renovations. We were thrilled that we could again use our membership at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore to gain free admission to this gallery. The renovations included a new, state of the art, 220-seat auditorium. They added 27,000 square feet of new construction; 30 percent more gallery space for permanent collection display and exhibitions; added its first-ever onsite cafe; and created a new double-height reception hall. Visitors can now walk up the grand staircase to the second floor. They have also installed new public elevators where 10 rooms and five additional passages of the original residence are beautifully renovated and stocked with masterpieces for all to view. We were disappointed that they did not bother to spend any of the renovation money to place a brief description of each piece of art next to it. They relied on everyone carrying a smart phone which I do not have.

    A beautiful mansion with a museum inside…read more The Frick Collection is a private art collection that was turned into a museum, housed in the former Gilded Age mansion of industrialist Henry Clay Frick. It's an interesting way to spend a Sunday, particularly if you enjoy art, architecture, or historic homes. That said, I found the collection itself less impressive than I expected. Admission is $30, which felt steep for a relatively small museum spanning only two floors. The artwork is certainly worth seeing, but the mansion itself was honestly the highlight for me. The architecture is beautiful, with ornate ceilings, elegant rooms, and a gorgeous courtyard and garden that make the visit feel more like exploring a historic New York residence than a traditional museum. One thing to note: photography is strictly prohibited, and the rule is very clearly enforced throughout the museum. Overall, I'm glad I visited, but at $30 for the size and scope of the collection, I'm not sure it's a must-see unless you're particularly interested in the Gilded Age.

    Photos
    The Frick Collection - Courtyard with fountain

    Courtyard with fountain

    The Frick Collection - Garden fountain

    Garden fountain

    The Frick Collection - Some guards are so militant that there's a cloud of angst in the rooms they look after. One guard didn't stop yelling.

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    Some guards are so militant that there's a cloud of angst in the rooms they look after. One guard didn't stop yelling.

    Color Factory - Grab your headphones and go dance in the next room under the disco lights

    Color Factory

    4.1(647 reviews)
    1.4 miSouth Village

    I had to run it back while in NYC and this was one of my favorite dates I've ever went on!…read more My friends had never been so they trusted me with a good time. We had so much today and it brought back the first time I came here and the amazing memories we made. It allows you to be a kid again and enjoy sweet treats and cool rooms while capturing photos ! Pending my link , then I'll update more photos #RICJAMES4EVA lol

    Color-Free Factory Aug 2026…read more My advice: money is green, which is a color. Keep your green money in your pocket and don't spend it at Color Factory. A color museum should have COLOR. This place was unbelievably shabby and unloved, the confetti room had no confetti, the color rooms were just painted empty dark closets the size of a mop and bucket. The whole thing could be done better in your own garage with three quarts of Sherwin-Williams paint and a roll of paper towels for confetti. The ball pit was only ankle deep in balls. I'm so embarrassed for Color Factory, I could make this place better in one long weekend with $100 and the help of three kids from a teenage art class. Collect colored objects from Goodwill, buy paint samples from Lowe's! Let kids paint! Buy colored plastic magnets and some light tables! In such a creative city packed with broke art students, this place should be amazing. It could be a home for inventive uses of color and design, instead of a broken, shabby, color-free house of sad. Skip Color Factory and just go for a walk in amazing New York. There's more color and creativity in one city block, and it's free.

    Photos
    Color Factory - Daughter and grand.

    Daughter and grand.

    Color Factory - Confetti Room

    Confetti Room

    Color Factory - The confetti room ! Our favorite room

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    The confetti room ! Our favorite room

    Mercer Labs - Mirrored room

    Mercer Labs

    3.9(162 reviews)
    0.5 miFinancial District

    My daughter absolutely loved Mercer Labs! She had already gone on a camp trip and enjoyed it so…read moremuch that we decided to go back together. I found a Groupon for around $75 total for one adult and one child, which made the experience feel much more reasonably priced. Regularly it's about $60 per person. This place is truly a sensory explosion in the best way. She enjoyed every floor and pretty much every activity. From the swings in the first room to the sand play toward the end, there was always something new for her to explore. One of her favorite parts was coloring her own creation and then having it uploaded onto the big screen. Later, we were walking through another area and she spotted her creation running around on a completely different screen, which she thought was the coolest thing ever. There are so many interactive, visual, and hands-on experiences that kept her interested the entire time. We spent a little under two hours there, which felt like plenty of time for us to enjoy everything without feeling rushed. Definitely a fun experience for kids, especially if they enjoy art, lights, movement, and interactive activities. Seeing how much fun she had made it worth the trip back!

    Mercer Labs was a mixed bag for me. I was expecting more robotics and engineering-type stuff, and…read moreonly a couple of things are in that vein. And maybe that's on me for not fully vetting what I was getting into. But it ended up being more like the Arte Museum. For what it is, its ok. A lot of imagery, but nothing special. If I hadn't gotten a Groupon, I'd probably be a little more upset. Its a lot of up-and-down stairs too, making that a little annoying to.

    Photos
    Mercer Labs - Shop entrance

    Shop entrance

    Mercer Labs - Mercer Lab- Lights

    Mercer Lab- Lights

    Mercer Labs - Chess Room

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    Chess Room

    Whitney Museum of American Art - 'If you don't editorially coax an illustration, nothing good will happen'
         --W.Shakespeare

    Whitney Museum of American Art

    4.0(652 reviews)
    2.3 miMeatpacking District, West Village

    I have been to the Whitney twice already…read more Here are the things I love about the Whitney Museum of American Art. - Start on the 7th floor and go through each floor. No two floors are alike. You will definitely tempt all five senses. -Gorgeous Terraces where you can go out grab a drink and take photos of the Skyline of West Side. -Contemporary Art/Artist each work of art is in a league of it's own -Tour guides available to answer your questions and provide tours on highlighted artist and artwork. You definitely need to take the time to absorb the artwork and look for the silver lining. What does this piece mean to you? How do you feel? -Frenchette Bakery at The Whitney- located on the ground floor. Good food and drinks.

    The Whitney Museum had a free admission week or something. The picture i posted in this review,…read morethis artwork is Cross Bearers by the self-taught African American artist Bessie Harvey (1929-1994), it looks self taught. The Museum was packed, angry elevator lady and not many people of the culture that reflects the artwork. Weird. This whole place was pretty crazy, i did nit think the art was that interesting. I mean, everybody acts like this is a big famous art museum that can change your cultural life or something, but half the people walking around in there are just phonies trying to look like they're deeply moved by a bunch of twisted old tree branches. It depresses the hell out of me. ​Its not that iteresting so don't overthink it, with all those gnarly roots and painted wood sticking out everywhere like some wild creature.That part was pretty cool, I guess. But then you've got all these fake foreign snobs in cheap coatd standing around stroking their chins, nodding like they're having a damn spiritual epiphany, when you know they're just going to go buy a ten-dollar cup of tea downstairs and brag about how cultured they are. That stuff just drives me nuts. ​The room itself was alright, clean and quiet enough, and that colorful quilt hanging on the wall behind it wasn't half bad either. But after about twenty minutes of staring at roots and watching people pretend to be brilliant art critics, I just wanted to get the hell out of there and go home. ​Three stars. It's fine if you're in the neighborhood and feeling lonely, but don't let anybody sell you a bill of goods about it.

    Photos
    Whitney Museum of American Art - A large fiberglass sculpture featured at the 2026 Whitney biennial.

    A large fiberglass sculpture featured at the 2026 Whitney biennial.

    Whitney Museum of American Art - Don't play what's there; play what's not there. 
        --Miles Davis

    Don't play what's there; play what's not there. --Miles Davis

    Whitney Museum of American Art - For what it's worth, it's never too late to be whoever you want to be.
        --F. Scott Fitzgerald

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    For what it's worth, it's never too late to be whoever you want to be. --F. Scott Fitzgerald

    Guggenheim Museum - Andy is using his camera and his mind as the sword of dignity  
         --W.Shakespeare

    Guggenheim Museum

    3.6(1.2k reviews)
    5.8 miUpper East Side

    The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building piqued my interest forty years ago, but I found viewing…read moreuncomfortable on the museum's helical ramp. Living walking distance to "Museum Mile," I thought it time to see if my sensibilities have changed. Aargh! Wrong time to visit. Hold off coming till the end of September since the ramps and some floors are closed. Very confusing going from one level to another. The elevators don't go to all the floors. Sometimes you're directed to a stairway. Other times they'll tell you the same stairway is closed and you have to find another. I much prefer MOMA and the Whitney, but when they're done doing whatever they're doing I'll return. Nonetheless, my visit was sort of worthwhile. The one minute solitary light 'experience' on the 7th floor is pretty cool. Some modern works on the upper floors I breezed over. The lower level -- or is it considered the second level?! -- was more to my liking.

    Come on, it's the Guggenheim. I don't love modern art, but they do pick the best pieces here so…read moreit's still pretty great. The spiral design makes it an easy walk, no getting lost in mazes of rooms, no stress about missing any areas. They have an Infinity Mirrored Room here, and the current exhibit of Carol Bove has some metal pieces with pretty cool textures and shapes. If I have limited time, I'm more about The Met, but the Guggenheim is definitely one for which you should make the time.

    Photos
    Guggenheim Museum - Create stuff never imagined.
 Pop 'em in the kisser with unique. 
      KnockOut

    Create stuff never imagined. Pop 'em in the kisser with unique. KnockOut

    Guggenheim Museum - 'Anisotropic metaphoric deception.      
 ...like anyone else has this idea'              
     --Marcus Aurelius

    'Anisotropic metaphoric deception. ...like anyone else has this idea' --Marcus Aurelius

    Guggenheim Museum - The dance of Art. 
 You don't have to believe it. 
 Your tears will suffice...      
     -Oscar Wilde

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    The dance of Art. You don't have to believe it. Your tears will suffice... -Oscar Wilde

    Balloon Museum - artmuseums - Updated September 2026

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